Rights of Women

Rights of Women :

You cannot rob us of the rights we cherish,
Nor turn our thoughts away
From the bright picture of a Woman’s Mission
Our hearts portray.
We claim to dwell, in quiet and seclusion,
Beneath the household roof,
From the great world’s harsh strife, and jarring voices,
To stand aloof;
Not in a dreamy and inane abstraction
To sleep our life away,
But, gathering up the brightness of home sunshine,
To deck our way.
As humble plants by country hedgerows growing,
That treasure up the rain,
And yield in odours, ere the day’s declining,
The gift again;
So let us, unobtrusive and unnoticed,
But happy none the less,
Be privileged to fill the air around us
With happiness;
To live, unknown beyond the cherished circle,
Which we can bless and aid;
To die, and not a heart that does not love us
Know where we’re laid.

Annie Louisa Walker

Annie Louisa Walker (1836-1907), British-born novelist, children’s playwright and poet, was educated in Ontario, where she and her sisters operated a school for ladies. Walker published poetry widely in newspapers on both sides of the border before collecting them in LEAVES FROM THE BACKWOODS in 1861-62. She returned to England to work for her cousin, Margaret Oliphant, a well-known novelist and edited her AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND LETTERS in 1899 under her married name Mrs. Harry Coghill. She collected her poetic output in Oak and Maple: English and Canadian Verses.

The word POETRY originates from a Greek word meaning TO MAKE. A poet is thus a maker and the poem something that is made or created. No single definition of poetry is possible but some characteristic features of poetry may be mentioned. Poetry has a musical quality with rhythm, pitch, metre and it may use figures of speech such as simile and metaphor. While quite a few poems in this selection are in traditional forms, the unit also includes modern poems that are free from formal restrictions.

Here is a list of English Poems written by various authors. Whatever the question is, poetry may be the answer. Writers say poetry provides them with comfort, a way to express themselves and the discipline of finding the essence with few words. Writing the poem (and finding just the right word) is the measure of success that the authors use. Really good poetry is instinctive. It’s who you are. It’s from the heart. You need to expose yourself to all kinds of poets and you may find your motivation and muse that way. Poetry gets to the core meaning. Poetry expands ideas.